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Who said that electronic music couldn't be silly? Certainly not the folks at Minimalogue. The South Korean graphics firm recently built Knuckle Visualizer, a synthesizer that replaces buttons, knobs and sliders with fun bits like jelly beans, rubber ducks and tiny matryoshka dolls. And yes, it works -- while you won't get a yarn-based waveform display like in the video below (that's just for show), the Visualizer itself beeps and squeaks like any "serious" synth. This art project is clearly a one-off, but there's a making-of clip that could help you recreate it in your own studio.

President Obama has criticized a Chinese plan to force US tech companies to install backdoors into their products for sale in the country. Without stopping for a moment to consider the phrase about glass houses and stones, he told Reuters that China would have to change its stance if it wanted to do business with the US.

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If you carry an iPhone but would rather accessorize it with a Moto 360 than an Apple Watch, you might just get that choice without resorting to unofficial tricks. Sources for French outlet 01netclaim that Google is "preparing to launch" an iOS version of its Android Wear app. There aren't any other details, although it's safe to say that third-party app support would require additional effort -- it wouldn't be an Android-to-Android connection any more, after all. This is very much a rumor and may not pan out, so don't assume that you'll be strapping on a Huawei Watch any time soon. With that said, Google isn't strictly denying that something is afoot. The folks in Mountain View tell us they "don't have anything to share at this time," so hope springs eternal.

The latest Silicon Valley company to hop on the virtual reality bandwagon is AMD, this morning unveiling what it's calling "Liquid VR": a software development kit aimed at making VR easier for everyone. The announcement comes from a presentation at GDC 2015 in San Francisco, where virtual reality is dominating the news. What does Liquid VR do for developers and users? It essentially makes everything much easier. As one AMD rep put it during this morning's presentation, "You can plug an Oculus Rift into a computer and start 3D rendering directly to the headset, even without Oculus' SDK." In so many words, Liquid VR is yet another solution for making various VR headsets work easily on various devices; it also optimizes the use of that headset for that particular computer (no doubt powered by AMD's chips).

Many "universal" payment cards... well, aren't. They either don't work everywhere or only hold a limited number of cards, which leaves you out of luck when you're trying to add one more loyalty program. Stratos thinks it has this problem licked, though. Its new Bluetooth Connected Card promises "100 percent compatibility" with payment systems in the US, and it can hold an unlimited number of cards that you control through a mobile app. You also shouldn't have to worry about a thief going on a shopping spree if you lose your card, since you can tell it to automatically lock down if it's not close to your phone for a while.

The man who created a working Millennium Falcon out of a drone has crossed to the dark side. Techcrunch spotted the sleek but sinister Star Wars TIE fighter drone that builder Philip_C based on a Return of the Jedi model. After designing it in AutoCAD and painstakingly building it over several days (the motors are cached within the TIE panels) he tested it, calling the early results "not awesome." Many shattered props later, he finally had a stable craft-- complete with majestic LED lights -- that looks ready to be cannon fodder for the Falcon drone. He included a detailed, step-by-step log of his work, and you can watch it soar in the video below.

After the glitzy, high-profile announcements of Sunday, Monday's march to the convention center is a more business-like affair. There's still lots to see though, including announcements from a bunch of household names, and a dancing robot. Jump in the gallery for more.

Don't miss out on all the latest news, photos and liveblogs from MWC 2015. Follow along at our events page.

Workouts and wired headphones can be a dicey business, so finding a wireless option to fit your regimen should be a top priority -- a mid-run tangle on a treadmill could end up flinging you and your phone to the ground. You'll probably be sweating buckets, too, if you're doing it right. Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson's very own SMS Audio checked all those boxes for its Wireless Sport series of on-ear and in-ear headphones, so you won't have to worry about those things if you're on the court, at the gym or out in the wild. Both pairs are IPX4 rated to deal with the waterworks and with 8-10 hours on a charge, you may run out of juice before they do. Both units also have easy to reach controls so you can manage that playlist or take ditch those important calls while burning some calories. This week, we have two bundles including one of each style, so that two lucky Engadget readers can keep the vibe alive and push on into the zone. Just head down to the Rafflecopter widget for up to three chances at scoring one of these SMS Audio Wireless Sports headphone packages.

The jury is still out on Amazon's voice-controlled Echo speaker, but that hasn't stopped Sony from developing a competitor. The 'Smart Bluetooth Speaker BSP60' is a petite black orb that pairs with Android devices and vocalizes basic information, such as the weather forecast and your daily schedule. Once triggered with the phrase "okay speaker," you can ask it to perform simple tasks too, such as setting timers, alarms and checking your phone for new messages. The built-in microphone accommodates conference calls and the tiny wheels underneath allow it to scoot around a flat surface, similar to the Sony Rolly. (Try snoozing that 6am alarm now...) By far its most eye-catching feature, however, are the twin sections that pop out of the top. The device then looks like a Tron-style alarm clock, with bright lights that change color underneath. They're mostly for show, but give Sony's speaker a charming little personalty. If you're interested, be prepared to shell out some serious cash -- Sony says it'll cost €299 ($355) when it debuts in Q2 2015.

BlackBerry spent a long, long time courting the world's business buffs, and for a while its phones were corporate icons as much as they were communicators. Now the folks in Waterloo are making another play for all the "young, mobile professionals" out there... or at least ones that don't give a lick about what's ticking away inside their phones. See, the Leap is BlackBerry's latest attempt at clawing into youngsters' pockets and it comes bearing a few familiar-sounding parts from years past. That might not be a dealbreaker considering the Leap'll cost you only $275 without a contract, and you know what? The thing actually makes a pretty good first impression.

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